The Atlantic salmon fall fishing season on the Penobscot River opened Saturday for the second year in a row.

But while the Maine Atlantic Salmon Commission called last year's season -- and the 241 licenses sold -- a success, interest in this year's fall season is in doubt.

By Monday, just 30 licenses had been sold after going on sale on Aug. 6. The monthlong fall season on the Penobscot River runs through Oct. 15.

How many will show interest in, or support for, fishing for the king fish this fall remains to be seen.

"What we had last year was a lot of people who were in support of salmon conservation, and didn't fish. I know that for a fact," said Pat Keliher, executive director of the commission. "It was a high percentage of people. I'm sure we'll have some more of that."

Keliher said he knows Atlantic salmon fishermen are frustrated and angry because they want to fish the spring run, not just a fall season.

The fishing is more exciting in the spring, when the salmon are returning to the Penobscot River from the sea to spawn.

In 1999, Maine rivers were closed to Atlantic salmon fishing in order to protect the salmon populations, which were believed to be threatened.

In 2000, Atlantic salmon were listed as endangered in eight Maine rivers and streams.

Then last fall, the Penobscot River was opened for restricted Atlantic salmon catch-and-release fishing for a month. There was talk, generated by the commission, of a possible spring season.

Just one salmon was caught last fall.

Now some locals say the season last fall generated interest in the Atlantic salmon fishery only because hope was raised for a spring season.

Some doubt many will support the fall season this year.

"I have no intention of buying a license this year," said Brewer fishermen Jim Snow, who runs the fishing department at Van Raymond Outfitters. "I am frustrated with the system ... I think a lot of people last year bought licenses in support of the program, with the expectation that there might be a spring season, and I think (the commission) held that out, the possibility of a spring season, and they never said they wouldn't have one until after (the fall season).

"I don't know that many people will buy a license."

Last week, Keliher of the Maine Atlantic Salmon Commission all but vowed fishermen would get their answer in the next few months on whether there will be a spring season in 2008.

"The salmon commission will present to the board in the next month and a half. So where it is still a wait-and-see, I think anglers want to know one way or another. And they deserve to know," Keliher said.

Meanwhile, the number of fishermen who buy a license and wet a line in the Penobscot River this fall could be way down from last year.

"It's such a semi-useless season, really," said Van Raymond, who owns Van Raymond Outfitters in Brewer, near the Penobscot River's salmon pools in Veazie.

"(But) last year, it was good for people who were real avid, and nice to have at least the season, even if it's watered-down."

An hour south, on the banks of the Kennebec River, there is little interest among anglers, said Mike Holt, who owns the fly fishing shop there, Fly Fishing Only.

"Anybody I've heard talk about it says they don't think they will buy one because of the small results from last year's effort," Holt said, referring to the single salmon caught.

"The old-timers say they used to fish the spring runs, and until they open up the Penobscot in the spring, they say, 'I'm not bothering.' "

Holt said before the river closed to salmon fishing in 1999, he stocked Atlantic salmon flies for fishermen traveling north on Interstate 95 in the spring, heading for the Penobscot River.

He replaced those flies with trout and landlocked salmon flies.

"When all the Atlantic salmon fishing closed, when they got listed as endangered, it just dried up," Holt said of interest.

Staff Writer Deirdre Fleming can be contacted at 791-6452 or at:

dfleming@pressherald.com